2.05.2006

Here, the green highlight represents the areas where I have finished the AI scripting. The red areas are not finished. From the looks of it, you'd think the AI scripting was about 50% complete, but I'd say it's nearer to 60 or 70%, considering what I know of the volume and complexity of the encounters in the following rooms. It's a good feeling. I'm including doors and triggers in the AI scripting of each room, so that's out of the way, too. I'll still need to script in the voice samples (as well as write and record them, heh) and some environmental stuff, but I'd say the majority of the work after this main scripting push will be placing items, testing, and balancing, followed by detailing, texturing, and lighting the environment, followed by placing the (hopefully soon to be released?) prefab objects, and finally putting in that voice stuff, music cues and sound effects, and maybe a little intro sequence. Writing up a readme file. Archiving the whole thing. Putting it up here to download!

My goal is to have the whole thing in a presentable state to show people at GDC, but I'm not sure how realistic that is. I've been working on this nights and weekend for a couple months now, and I have about a month and a half before GDC. There's a lot more work to do... too much for the timeframe? If it's playable from start to finish, but not polished to its completed state, is it worth showing? I'm not sure. Probably best to bring what I've got, then just play it by ear as far as showing people or not.

GDC should be great, though. I've wanted to go for years now, but never had a way to get there or get in. Luckily I'm getting a free pass through my association with Idle Thumbs, and I live not far from San Jose. I'm really looking forward to it. GameDev magazine sent me a GDC itinerary, and I marked down like 4/5 of the presentations in the game design and IGDA tracks. So much of it sounds completely intriguing. Really, I can't wait.

I'd like to work on the map more and finish up some drafts I have for this blog, but I have to play [unnamed naval PS2 game] for upwards of ten hours tomorrow before I'll get a chance to do that. It'll be awesome when my job is not easy but instead rewarding.

Oh, also, picked up Trauma Center for the DS, and have Phoenix Wright on the way in from eBay ($40 w/ free shipping whatta deal!) Do you want to be a doctor, or a lawyer? Why choose when you can be both!?